Degrees - Paralegal Studies

The American Bar Association (ABA) approves Coastline's Paralegal Studies Program. The Paralegal Program prepares personnel for the intermediary position between the legal secretary and the attorney, performing work under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals work in law offices and other legal and law related environments, and many interact with clients. A paralegal shall not provide legal advice or engage in conduct that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, including contracting with a natural person other than an attorney for the performance of paralegal services (California Business & Professions Code, Sections 6450 et seq.). This program is not intended to prepare students for law school or the practice of law.

Students who do not already possess an Associate of Arts or bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college or university must complete the associate degree (60 units) as specified below. These requirements are in compliance with the ABA Guidelines for paralegal programs. Degree candidate students are required to attend a paralegal orientation or a counseling session and complete the English and Math Placement Testing and Group A General Education requirements prior to entering LAW C105, LAW C118, LAW C121, LAW C390 and/or any major elective with a "LAW" designation. The remaining general education units are to be completed concurrently with the remaining paralegal courses. Students must achieve a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in each paralegal studies course.

Paralegal studies course work taken at other institutions in an ABA-approved program, with approval by the paralegal studies department, will qualify for no more than six (6) units of transfer credit in legal specialty courses in the paralegal studies certificate program. Paralegal studies courses taken for other than a letter grade are limited to seven (7) units within the 27 unit total, and 21 units of paralegal course work must be completed at Coastline Community College. (Credit by examination is not available for courses within the Paralegal Studies Certificate.) Upon completion of the degree program, students will be awarded an associate degree in Paralegal Studies and a Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies approved by the American Bar Association.

Students possessing a transferable Associate of Arts or bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with official transcripts on file at Coastline, will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies approved by the American Bar Association upon completion of the 27 units of required paralegal courses. All students are required to attend a paralegal orientation or a counseling session and must achieve a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in each paralegal studies course. All students are required to demonstrate computer proficiency* (see below).

PROGRAM LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

Analyze and communicate conclusions both orally and in writing.

Apply legal concepts to the clients' problems.

Apply legal ethics in the paralegal field.

Students will complete all of the following:

Course ID

Name

Units

LAW C100

Introduction to Paralegal Studies

3.0

LAW C127

Legal Procedure 1

3.0

LAW C128

Legal Procedure 2

3.0

LAW C105

Civil Litigation 1

3.0

LAW C118

Legal Analysis & Briefing

3.0

LAW C121ORLAW C120ANDLAW C122

Legal Research/CALRORLegal ResearchANDComputer Assisted Research

4.0

LAW C390

Legal Clinic Practicum/Ethics

2.0

To be selected from Program Electives below:

6.0

Paralegal Courses Subtotal

27.0

Program Electives

Choose 6 units from the following:

Course ID

Name

Units

LAW C110

Civil Litigation 2

1.5

LAW C115

Criminal Litigation

1.5

LAW C126

Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration

3.0

LAW C130

Law Office Management

1.5

LAW C135

Family Law

1.5

LAW C142

Probate/Estate Planning

3.0

LAW C148

Elder Law

1.5

LAW C150

Corporate/Business Organization

3.0

LAW C152

Conflict Analysis and Resolution

3.0

LAW C155

Bankruptcy Law and Procedures

3.0

LAW C158

Intellectual Property

3.0

LAW C160

Civil Trial & Evidence

1.5

LAW C161

Tort Law

3.0

LAW C164

Contract Law

3.0

LAW C170

Computer Applications

3.0

GENERAL EDUCATION, Paralegal Program

Students are required to complete at least 18 units in courses numbered C100-C299 listed in Groups A to D. (Course work in Group A2 is limited to ENGL C100. Course work in Group C1 is limited to ART C100, C101 and /or MUS C100. All course work in C2 is acceptable.) In addition, 3 units in Group E are required. Students can meet the general education requirements under Options 1, 2, or 3|AS|sociate degree academic plans.

ELECTIVES

*Computer proficiency may be demonstrated by the satisfactory completion of LAW C170 or BC C148 and LIBR C110; by completion of similar courses; by transfer credit course work; by workplace substantiation; by Microsoft Certification; or by other computer industry certification.

Course Group

Units

General Education Subtotal

21.0

**Electives Subtotal

12.0

Total for Certificate

27.0

Total for the AA/AS Degree Program

60.0

**Work Based Learning courses apply only to these elective units and are not a part of the paralegal studies courses. Earn credit for work you do on the job. [Effective catalog 2012-2013]

Federal Gainful Employment Disclosure

Use the link below to view Coastline Community Colleges Federal Gainful Employment Disclosure for this program. These reports provide you, the student, with important information regarding the costs, benefits, and potential employment options of our degree and certificate programs.

About Coastline

Coastline Community College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Post-secondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.